Happy Father's Day

 Happy Father's Day. Yes, today is Father's Day, the day we remember those that are our fathers, dads, pops, whatever you call this man in your life. I pray that you have had the opportunity to spend time with your father, not just today, but throughout your life. For many, their father has already entered into eternal rest (I do pray that your father was a God-fearing man, believing in Jesus Christ as his Savior, for if that is the case, then you can be assured that he is in heaven with his Heavenly Father). If you were not raised by your birth father, give thanks for the man who raised you. And if you did not have your father around as you were growing up, give thanks that the heavenly Father was always with you.

I hope you have a good father, one who showed you love, who cared for you, who was there for you and who helped you as you were growing up. As a father myself, I know one thing is for sure, I have forgiveness. I did my best raising my daughter Rachael and my son Matthew. I tried to show them that I loved them. I tried to be understanding. I tried to show them that Jesus is their Savior and that God is with them always. I tried to instill in them the importance of faith in Christ and living as His child each day. I did my best. But I know that I also failed. There were times I was not a good father. I got upset. I said things I should not have. I acted in ways that were not Christ-like. For all those times, I have asked the Lord to forgive me and my children to forgive me. It was important that when I lsot my cool, I would go back and ask my kids for forgiveness, confessing to them that I was wrong. 

I did my best as an earthly father to show my children the love of the heavenly Father. And that is the best thing that I could do. Our heavenly Father never gets turns His back on us. He does not like our sins but He loves us. He never quits loving us. That is important to remember - God never stops loving you. No matter how far you stray from Him, He will always come to you, pick you up, clean your wounds and give you His love. He will alays forgive you for Christ's sake. 

If at this time, you feel you have turned from the Lord. Stop. Bow your head. Confes to Him that you have sinned and for Christ's sake, ask Him to forgive you. Then feel His loving arms surround you and pull you to His chest. Breath deeply of His love. Take in that wonderful gift of forgiveness. And then, sinking back into His arms, take your rest. Ask Him to help you to change your sinful life and to follow Him in your life. Yes, it is important for each one of us to continue to return to our Lord Jesus Christ. It is important for us to return to our Father in heaven. For in Him, we find comfort, forgiveness and peace.

Believing in Jesus Christ as your Savior. I pray that you do believe in Him. I pray that You do live as a child of God, not as a child of the world. I pray that You have a good relationship with your earthly father. I pray that you will call him today (if you can), and talk with him. Tell him that you love him. That is important.

Father's Day. May you be blessed this day, whether or not you are a father. The Lord is there, blessing you already. Open your eyes to see those blessings.

Jut some morning ramblings.

 I sit on the porch this morning, knowing that today will be an unbearably hot day. Tomorrow is going to be even worse. I sit and watch the sun rise and the birds sing. It truly is a lovely morning. Yet there are those things that are not so lovely. It is hot. It is dry. The grass is starting to turn brown, which is mighty early in the summer to have that happen. The crops in the fields are starting to be in distress for lack of water. 

Then I look off to the southwest. There is a large white cloud that continues to build. The sun shines off the cloud. The birghtness reminds me of the even of Jesus' transfiguration where we are told that Jesus garments shown like the sun, whiter than the whiteness made by bleaching them. That cloud was bright, white and amazing. Under that cloud, there would be rain. Rain that is watering the earth. Rain that is refreshing the earth, the plants, and the people. And while it might not be rain right here, at this place, where I want it, I give thanks to God. He is opening His hand and bringing relief to those who receive the refreshing rain.

Should I grumble that I do not get the rain here? My sinful, selfish nature would say, "Yes." After all, why should they receive rain when we need it over here? Why should their crops be refreshed when our crops over here need it? Why should I not see the rain, when I want it? Then I stop, think about it, and realize, I am only thinking of me. Instead of rejoicing that someone is getting rain, I am grumbling that I am not. How selfish of me. But what about...wait a moment, who are you thinking of? Me. Of course, me. Only me. How things affect me. How I want things. How I think it should be. How I want to be the one who receives. Me, me, me. 

We live very self-centered lives. Sin makes it that way. In most situations, we are looking out only for ourselves. Even when we try to say we are looking out for others, it often still comes back to "me." 

The Lord does not look at things that way. Instead, He looks out for "you." That is shown as He sends His Son into the world. Not for Himself but for you and me. He lives here on earth, not for Himself, but for you and me. He cares for those around Him. He watches over them. He loves them. Even when they are being self-centered, He still loves them. Thankfully it is that way. For I am so often self-centered and He still loves me.

He suffered and died for you and me. He went through that terrible agony of carrying the fullness of the Law, not because of anything He had done, but because of everything you and I have done. He took your place, my place and He was laid in the grave for you and me. He did it all, not for Himself, but for sinners who love only themselves. 

Then He rose! He rose from the dead! Imagine that. Why? Not for Himself. Not to help Himself. Not because He did not want to be dead. He rose for you and me. He rose and then said, "Because I rose from the grave, because I conquered death, you will too. Death shall not defeat you. Death shall not overcome you. He will rise and live with Me eternally." What amazing love. How unselfish of Him. 

Thank the Lord! that he was so unselfish. Thank the Lord for the new life and the new hope He gives. It might be raining over Rockport way, but I know, that is ok. That is what the Lord desired this day. Will He bring us rain? When it is time. I find that I wait patiently on the Lord. As I do, I rejoice in the whiteness of a storm cloud that reminds me of the purity of the Lord and the love He has for me. 

Then, as the heat builds, I will retreat into the air conditioned comfort and thank the Lord, that I can be comfortable. Now, let us go about our day, thinking of others, thanking the Lord and rejoicing in the air-cooled comfort. 

June begins

 It is June! Can you believe it? June is here, which means we are fast approaching the halfway point of 2021. After 2020, with all the shut downs, the covid things, and the like, it seemed like it was a slow year. Looking back it did go quickly, but during the year, it dragged. This year is not dragging. It is flying by. Thank You Lord that the shut down stuff of last year has been being lifted.

The lifting of the requirements of the covid shut down has made it possible for the LWML to have the national convention in Lexington, KY, during this month. At first it was going to be limited. There was a waiting list. Then it was lifted. Those on the waiting list were welcomed in. And we are going to have a "normal" convention. Perhaps by the time convention arrives, the mask mandate will be lifted. That would make me happy. I hated the mask. I know that there were those that needed them, to protect themselves because of their health issues. I did not always agree with the way masks were used. I am now thankful that it has become an option you have to decide for yourself rather than being told that you have to wear it no matter what. Now comes the vaccination issues. Will you be forced to show a vaccine card to fly, to go into a store, to buy concert tickets? Time will tell. I hope not. 

I look foward to this month. VBS starts today. The LWML convention is at the end of the month. Warm weather. Sitting on the porch. Enjoying the days. Summer time. I love summer time. This spring has been crazy, up and down, warm and cold, cold and warm, typical spring weather which I hope is now behind us. 

Foggy today. Very foggy. Dew point and temperature are the same. I think of the fog that people walk in as they don't have the Spirit leading them. Lost in the fog, they wander aimlessly, or they rush headlong into those things that will hurt or destroy them. I pray that the Fog will be lifted. And that folks will see the clear path and the Good Shepherd who is there to lead them.